Something Beautiful and Wicked

His head thrashed side to side; his brows creased tightly into furrowed lines.     

Through his tightly pressed lids, in his dreams, he could make out a person, a flash of red—a masked woman. She was glory and death, fire and blood, flesh and smoke. Her lethal frame enveloped his sight; smoke then filled his lungs, static pierced his ears, and the world titled black.     

Yuan Shun opened his eyes.     

He ran a palm down his face, trying to block out the remnants of memory that followed him for months.     

He didn't want to remember the rest of it.     

Stirring out of bed, he washed up before he went down the stairs, towards his home gym. Yuan Shun stretched and warmed up before he began to lift weights, trying to clear his head.     

He started to think of his brother, who called him weak for wanting to back out when he proposed the idea to claim Shi Group. His brother said that for once, he had the best idea, and when he was about to back out—he was called a coward. So Yuan Shun went along with it, and everyone was proud of him.     

Some part of him was proud too. He learned to harden his heart, to be unmoved by anything and anyone, just as his brother and grandfather wanted.     

Now he felt himself morphing back to whom he once was—Shi Yen was affecting him badly. He felt it.     

But how could he allow himself to be affected when he spent years straying away from that possibility. He'd be hurting Shi Yen even more if he's unsuccessful with preventing the joining of Shi Group and Yuan Bank; it'd remove the hope she had to take it back.     

Part of him wanted her to take it back. And even if he offered to give it back, she wouldn't allow him because it'd make them both look weak. She'd be seen as weak for not being able to fight for it, while he would look weak for giving it to her just because he l—     

Yuan Shun stopped.     

…     

It didn't take long for Shi Yen's face to plaster over many billboards, banners, and the city centers television screens.     

Her face was everywhere, and it was overwhelming. She'd never felt so naked, seen, when she was used to hiding—concealing.     

Shi Yen was at the town square, in the middle of towering buildings where monitors showed her briefly seducing a man before the ad promoted her fragrance collection. Her social media pages began to pop off, even though she never used them.     

Her follower count jumped to thousands, and she didn't understand why. She decided to upload an image of her, and comments began to flood her post.     

Shi Yen read some comments before she picked up some pastries to eat while she walked Shizi. She thanked the shop owner before Shi Ailin called her.     

Shi Yen answered.     

"Many agencies are calling, demanding me to tell them who the model in our ads is. And they were shocked to find out it was the CEO!" She laughed. "My goodness, Yen. Wait—I'll call you back! I've been handling phone calls all morning."     

Her sister then hung up before Shi Yen could say a word. Shizi twirled, asking for a piece of her pastry.     

"I can't give this to you," she reminded her. Shizi pouted, and Shi Yen dug into her purse, opting for a treat.     

Shi Yen then took a deep breath, smelling the misty water from the nearby harbour mixed with the scent of baked goods as they resumed their walking.     

She forgot that she had Yuan Shun's number. So she decided to stop and take a picture of herself in front of their ad, and she sent it to him.     

It was then radio silent on his part, as he didn't reply.     

Shi Yen shrugged it off when she turned a corner, catching the sight of Shi Group.     

It was a tower, a tower her father said that she'd rule from the top level. It was still in business, most likely because Yuan Shun didn't want to let a business opportunity go. She wondered how she found herself not only living with someone who grasped what she was supposed to have but she also mingled with him.     

How could she start to forget what she planned to do? Ruin Yuan Shun and take back Shi Group.     

And yet, can she bring herself to do the first part?     

If there were a time where she faces him, would it be with malice or a sense of joining?     

Her mind was hazed. Never did she feel so confused or divided between what her mind told her and her heart.     

Even so, Yuan Shun had the capacity to destroy her, to prevent her from plotting against him. So why didn't he?     

Shi Yen kept walking until she reached her parked car, and Shizi hopped into the passenger seat. She then drove them home, finding Yuan Shun's car on the driveway.     

So he was home.     

Shi Yen stepped inside, and Shizi ran up to her chewing toy.     

She ate some dinner and afterward, she watched a movie in the living room, wondering if Yuan Shun would come join her.     

But he never came.     

Shi Yen then left Shizi her dinner, and she went on her way to her uncle's home.     

It was a small estate, nothing too fancy or plain.     

She knocked on the door, and her uncle, the man who resembled her father, welcomed her in.     

"I didn't expect you to visit," he said.     

"Hm. It's been a while."     

He guided her to the kitchen, offering her tea. "What's the matter?" he questioned.     

Shi Yen pressed her lips into a thin line. "I feel like I'm losing myself, uncle."     

Shi Ma furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"     

Shi Yen's hand curled around her teacup. "I've been speaking with Mr. Yuan, and I feel like I am coming into terms with accepting the fact that I've lost Shi Group and that I might be okay with that."     

Shi Ma folded his arms across his chest. His warm expression cooled into iciness. His tone was sharp when he replied, "You've been speaking with the boy that took everything from you? From us?"     

Shi Yen bit her lower lip. "Yes. I wanted revenge, but...I don't know if I care as much anymore."     

Her uncle attempted to understand the situation. "Yen..." he said softly. "I remembered how heartbroken you were when you learned everything was gone, taken by the Yuan's. Your father wouldn't have pictured you giving up. Remember that you are Shi Yen, and that boy is Yuan Shun."     

"I know, but—"     

"No 'buts.' It's clear the boy must have manipulated you." He scoffed. "What happened to you, Yen? It's a good thing you came to me. You are losing yourself, your motivation. Yuan Shun is your enemy and nothing else, remember that."     

Shi Yen faced him blankly. "I'm Shi Yen," she said.     

"Exactly. Don't forget your purpose. What are you supposed to do?"     

"Ruin Yuan Shun," she said remotely.     

"What did he do to you?"     

"He took everything from me," she replied.     

"Yes," Shi Ma approved.     

Shi Yen nodded. She stood up and went back home.     

Once she arrived, she slumped on her bed, releasing a breath. It's clear what she has to do, but why can't she bring herself to do it?